William OVENS & Harriet Maskelyne AUST

William OVENS was listed as 35 years old on the ship log when he emigrated to South Australia in 1839. This would give his birth year c.1804. I have yet to find any references to William in England.

Harriet Maskelyne AUST
One source says that Harriet was born 22nd December 1798 at Pentonville St. James, London, England and that her parents were Leonard AUST and Harriet AUST. Harriet was listed as 33 years old on the ship log when she emigrated to South Australia in 1839. This would give her birth year c.1804. I have yet to resolve this inconsistency in date of birth. The 1841 South Australian Census has her birth place as Newington, Surrey.

William and Harriet were married on 27 Jan 1825 at St. Mary's, Lambeth, Surrey.

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The difficult voyage of 'Prince Regent'
The 'Prince Regent' was chartered by the South Australian Commission for their passengers. She loaded at St. Katherine Docks, London, and departed on 6th June 1839. The official list for this voyage shows 172 passengers but the Adelaide newspapers reported the arrival of 199 passengers. There was cargo for South Australia as well as 10 sheep for a Mr. Borrow who was on board.

She sailed directly to Holdfast Bay, with no land sighted before kangaroo island and no ship sighted. The passengers were disappointed that they did not put in anywhere during the voyage. 'Prince Regent' was reported at Holdfast Bay on 25th September 1839. The next day she proceeded into Port Adelaide. The voyage had taken 112 days. There had been hardship on the voyage, with most of the children having measles and a fever that took 22 nursing children. Many of the surviving children were very weak, some scarcely able to walk. Two adults also died during the voyage. It was reported later that the doctor who was appointed for this voyage had withdrawn at the last minute and the replacement was young and only partly qualified. Some of the passengers' belongings were not loaded and came later on other boats.

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In South Australia
After a very difficult voyage, the OVENS family arrived in a colony in recession. Colony spending was four times income, land sales were at a standstill and businesses and government agencies were laying off employees. City numbers declined by more than a third when work became scarce and the unemployed were encouraged to leave Adelaide and find work elsewhere.

Just over five months after arriving, William and Harriet's daughter Harriett Ann, married Henry JACOBS on 10 March 1840 at Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide. Harriet Ann was 15 years old and Henry was 31 years old. The marriage was witnessed by Harriet OVENS (Harriet Ann's mother) but no mention was made of William OVENS (father). Henry JACOBS returned to Hay Valley with his new wife Harriet Ann. Harriet's mother and her sister Jemima went with them.

Harriet and Henry's first child Charles JACOBS was born 24 May 1840 at Hay Valley (from his obit). Harriet was 6 or 7 months pregnant when she married Henry. Harriet had become pregnant on the voyage to Australia.

Seven months after Harriet Ann (Annie) married Henry JACOBS, her father was dead. On 24 October 1840, William was found to have died by a gunshot wound to the head and the coroners finding was that he did it to himself while under the influence of temporary insanity. He is buried in the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

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Children of William OVENS & Harriet Maskelyne AUST

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#1 Harriett Ann (Annie) OVENS
b.c.1825 Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England
m. Henry JACOBS [CHILDS family connection]
See: Henry JACOBS & Harriet OVENS page.

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#2 Jemima Louise OVENS Sometimes Louisa Jemima
b. Nov 1834, Lambeth, Surrey, England
Jemima Louise OVENS (18yrs) married John OWEN (age 27yrs) at St. James Church, Blakiston on the 12 Feb 1853
Louise d. 20 Feb 1879 (43yrs) Crystal Brook.

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#3 John OVENS
b.1837 Clerkenwell, Middlesex
d.February 1844 (7yrs), interred at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

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Harriett Maskelyne AUST married Mark SINCLAIR (perhaps SINCLER) on 11th Jan 1841 at Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide.
He was originally from Hamburg, Germany and lived in Albert and Hay Valley.
They are listed as having 2 children: